Penn pleads no contest in altercation with photographer
In this March 3, 2009 file photo, actor Sean Penn talks during a press conference lobbying the state of California to recognize Harvey Milk Day in San Francisco. Credit: AP
Sean Penn pleaded no contest to vandalism Wednesday, effectively ending a case in which the Oscar-winning actor was videotaped kicking a celebrity photographer.
Penn was not present in the Los Angeles court and entered the plea through his attorney. He was sentenced to 3 years of informal probation and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service, city attorney's spokesman Frank Mateljan said, according to The Associated Press reports.
Mateljan says those hours can be completed through Penn's earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti.
He was also ordered to undergo 36 hours of anger management counseling and stay 100 yards away from the photographer.
Penn was charged in February with misdemeanor battery and vandalism for the October dust-up and faced up to 18 months in jail if convicted.
"Prolonging this matter in the court system would not have been in Mr. Penn's best interests and would have distracted from his charitable commitments, specifically his work in Haiti," Penn's attorney Richard Hirsch said.
If he completes the terms of his sentence, Penn will be allowed to reduce the charge to disturbing the peace.
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